Wichita eagle., 1887-05-26
THE USE OF SLANG.
A PARTIAL LIST OF THE EXPRESS
SlONS IN COMMON USE.

A PARTIAL LIST OF THE EXPIRES
sloNs IN COMMON USE.
Words Which Are Misapplied Right and
Left-Laneuags of the Rapid Young
Man-slang Used BY the Theatrical
Profession.
Slang may not be elegant, but it is won
derfully expressive. The Gotham bellies
have discovered this and do not fail to air
their knowledge. To hear q charming
creature, resembling an angel, or perhaps
cherub, in Worth's latest creation, q
perfect symphony in clouds Of feecy tulle,
tell her fond admirer to 'Ice his lips and
take his tongue for q sleigh ride" pro-
duces such . chill that pneumonia is Inn
minent.
A ladies' luncheon is pronounced to be
chen party" and dinner IS said to be
"a feed The latest thing in ball dresses
is declared ga daisy" and the bon
net that is to bring out envy, hatred, NAL
ice and all uncharitableness Is spoken OF
as ''toothsome' The object of ones
young affections greets you on the avenue
with ''Ah, therer' while knowledge OF the
Cid Testament is shown by the exclama-
ton, ooh, Moses!''
The latest novel which meets with APP
probation is termed "a cOrker," and q
Venus or Adonis whose hair would have
made Titan wild is universally spoken OF
as ''Bricktop." "Sweet is not applied
alone to candy, but young men who sup
ply that dainty come under the category,
and, indeed, everything with name has
had that adjective attached to it at some
time or another. The word ''ittle" Is
misappied right and left, and is used to
denote affection, as is also "old." A
maiden of sweet 16 is told she is ''dear
old thing" and a Hercules, who tips the
scale at $50 Is termed ''little duck" So
much for affection.
THE RAPID YOUNG MAN.
A youth arrayed in his Sunday best is
told he is ''howler," and when he is on
the box seat showing how to handle q
team he is mis)informed he can 'handle
the ribbons The exertion of doing this
is great, as his team pulls him, throws
''dust'' at his competitors, and he must
pull up and have ''ball.' On his way
home he passes the family carriage and ir-
reverently remarks that hen ''bet his
hat if that's not the ''Guv'nOr" driving
in the ''family hearse," and his lately de-
ceased uncle is spoken OF as ''deader.
His place Of business is termed "a shop"
and when he is inclined to have some sup
per he declares he must 60 and ''dO a
Welsh rarebit."
He speaks of DelmOnico's ball room as
''the auction mart" and chaperones as
cold girls.' Champagne he calls ''the
boy" and always offers his friends "a
weed.' When visit is made to Bar
Harbor the great ball at Rodick's is called
'ths fish pond'' The Anglomaniac al
ways prefaces his or her remarks by Il
say" as if that were q necessary trade
mark A man is being "worked" when
anything is being got from him, and
''queer'' member Of family is always
spoken Of as "a regular case" The
''black Sheep of family is known as q
''bad egg," while anything that has been
expected and does not ''come off, is
known as ''seu."
A man much in love Is always spoken
of as ''spoony," and when this is recipro-
Gated the pair are known as ''spoons"
The simple minded man is known to the
slang world as "a cake" and the same
one when he is supposed to be much in
love with fair being is said to have got
it bad" Of a young woman who has an
eve for the "main chance" it is said that
cher heads level" however high that
very necessary appendage may be carried,
and the men who gaze fondly at her are
said to be mashed
THE THEATRICAL PROFESSION.
The slang Of the theatrical profession is
extensive, but it is decidedly confined to
the lower members of it. The better class
of actors are studiously careful not to en-
ploy it, and they look with certain de-
gree of contempt upon those who are ac-
customed in their daily conversation to
deal largely in slang. The days have gone
when ''to see the ghost walk meant that
salaries would be paid, a singular innova-
ton in the old times.
Union square is now the headquarters
Of the slang actor. The high toned ones
have long ago left that conspicuous resort.
Here you will hear constant references to
"Jonahs, ~ the unfortunates who are sup
posed to bring bad luck to the companies
they happen to have been employed with.
"Fakirs,'' actors of not much talent, and
Stake" q trashy and unworthy production
of piece ''Gambs" is reference to the
limbs of an actress, and s'dicer'' to the tall
hat Of the society actor. Perhaps no word
is more habitually used than ''snap,"
which describes company or a combina-
ton of which the funds are SO low that it
Is not expected to last. There are ''snap"
managers and SNAP agents and "snap"
troupes that live from hand to mouth year
in and year out
It was Johnny Thompson, the ION
Hand man, who got stuck one time out
west with his company and somebody sug-
gested that he should pledge his diamonds
to get the people back. "Whatr' he ex-
claimed in disgust; ''hock me sparks for
dem plumss No, sireer' Mr.. Thompson
was the foremost professor Of slang upon
the stage.
"Jay'' describes tho country audience.
"Chase yourself" is the advice of the god
to the one who is making fool of himself
''Sitting on ice" applies to an audience
that won't applaud. Touching that lit
tic question: means the actor wants an
advance on his salary.-New York Jour-
nal.
F1orida's Roots and Herbs.
whap ~o think Of tho